ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays tributes to police personnel martyred in the line of duty on Police Commemoration Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to police personnel martyred in the line of duty on Police Commemoration Day.
"Police Commemoration Day is about expressing gratitude to our police personnel and their families all across India. We pay tributes to all the police personnel martyred in the line of duty. Their sacrifice and service would always be remembered.
From preserving law and order to solving horrendous crimes, from assistance in disaster management to fighting COVID-19, our police personnel always give their best without hesitation. We are proud of their diligence and readiness to assist citizens", the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Nominations for Padma Awards-2023 open till 15th September, 2022
Online nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards 2023 to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2023 have opened on 1st May 2022. The last date for nominations for Padma Awards is 15th September, 2022. The nominations/recommendations for Padma Awards will be received online only on the Rashtriya Puruskar Portal .
The Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country. Instituted in 1954, these Awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year. The award seeks to recognize ‘work of distinction’ and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields/disciplines, such as, Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except Doctors and Scientists, are not eligible for Padma Awards.
The Government is committed to transform the Padma Awards into “People’s Padma”. All citizens are, therefore, requested to make nominations/recommendations, including self nomination. Concerted efforts may be made to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognized from amongst women, weaker sections of society, SCs & STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to society.
The nominations/recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the above said Portal, including a citation in narrative form , clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements/service of the person recommended in her/his respective field/discipline.
Details in this regard are also available under the heading 'Awards and Medals' on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs  and on the Padma Awards Portal . The statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the website with the link https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx .
NW/RK/AY/RR
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Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Australia on the safety in Mines, Testing and Research Station
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding  between Directorate General of Mines Safety , Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India and Department of Natural Resource Mines and Energy, Queensland Government, Australia through the Safety in Mines, Testing and Research Station .
Impact:
The MoU will help in establishing a partnership between DGMS and SIMTARS for:
- implementation of risk based safety management system, providing training,
- organising, conference, seminar and other technical meetings, setting up occupations safety and health academy and national mine disaster centre, and
- modernising R&D laboratory of DGMS.
Implementation strategy:
The memorandum of understanding will become operative from the date of signing and remain in effect for three years.
Background:
Mining accident rates in Australia is the lowest in the world. Australia has pioneered in conceptualising and implementing risk based Safety Management Plans for the mining sector using the technique of hazard identification and risk assessment.SIMTARS is known to have exclusive expertise in Mines Safety Management Systems.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari calls for manufacturing of Flex Fuel Vehicles  and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles  complying with BS-6 Norms in a time bound manner within a period of six months
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has said in order to substitute India’s import of petroleum as a fuel and to provide direct benefits to farmers, the Automobile Manufacturers in India have now been advised to start manufacturing Flex Fuel Vehicles  and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles  complying with BS-6 Norms in a time bound manner within a period of six months.
In a series of Tweets he said that in line with Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and government’s policy on promoting ethanol as a transport fuel, Flex Fuel Vehicles are capable to run on a combination of 100% Petrol or 100% bio-ethanol and their blends, along with strong Hybrid Electric technology in case of FFV-SHEVs.
Shri Gadkari said this move will drastically reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from vehicles on a Well-to-Wheel basis, helping India to comply with its commitment made at COP26 to reduce the total projected carbon emissions by One Billion Tonnes by 2030.
Government is enabling the use of various alternate fuels in an effort to shift from fossil fuels. In order to accelerate the introduction of Flex Fuel vehicles, the Production Linked Incentive  scheme has included automobile & auto components and auto components of flex fuel engines. NITI Aayog, after acknowledging the strong foundation for the Ethanol blending programme , has formulated the road map for Ethanol blending for the period, 2020-2025.
Further in line with Prime Minister’s initiatives of launching three E-100 ethanol dispensing stations at Pune on the occasion of World Environment Day, and MoPNG’s  regulation, which stipulates that in addition to conventional fuel, the authorised entities are required to install facility for marketing at least one new- generation alternate fuel viz, Compressed Natural Gas, Bio-fuels, Liquefied Natural Gas , Electric vehicle charging points etc., complying with various statutory guidelines, immediate steps need to be taken to introduce flex fuel engine vehicles. It is expected that higher percentages of ethanol will be blended in gasoline in the next five years, requiring availability of flex engine vehicles.
MJPS
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Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI
International Webinar on Inputs to Policy on Empowering Young Scientists
An International Webinar titled “Inputs to Policy on Empowering Young Scientists” was conducted jointly by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser  to the Government of India, the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences , and the Indian Institute of Technology – Banaras Hindu University.
The webinar, organised on January 9, 2023, is a part of the Office of PSA’s initiative on Empowering Young Scientists with the aim to collate inputs on a new policy document to nurture and empower the next generation of young scientists and researchers  in India that would translate into excellence in scientific and technological leadership for furthering the research and development in the country.
Speakers from different parts of the world participated and gave their inputs. The speakers at the webinar were Professor T. K. Oommen, Michigan, Technological University, USA; Dr Manu Vora, ASQ Fellow, Chairman and President, Business Excellence, Inc., USA; Professor Anupma Prakash, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Alaska; Professor Ganesh Bora, Associate Vice Chancellor , Fayetteville State University; Professor Manoj K. Shukla, Professor of Soil Physics, New Mexico State University, USA; Dr Keshav Swarnkar, Consultant General Surgeon, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK; Professor Nitin K. Tripathi, Professor , Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok; Professor Sanjay K. Shukla, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Professor Bipashyee Ghosh, Research Fellow, Deep Transition, University of Sussex, UK; Professor Vikram Alva, Project Leader, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany.
The salient points which emerged from the webinar include recommendations for funding support for early career researchers; freedom to take up research in their area of interest; skill development - both hard and soft skills; involvement in decision-making; easing of administrative procedures for undertaking international collaborations; rewards and recognition of early career scientists and spreading awareness about opportunities for career growth to retain and encourage young researchers; spreading awareness on opportunities for collaboration and funding by investing in the networking of young scientists; good mentorship programmes and incentives for mentors; education on research ethics, research paper publications and supporting patent filing.
These recommendations will be included in the final policy document that will emerge as an outcome of the consultations with scientists and researchers in India and the Indian diaspora done through questionnaire circulated to scientists and researchers  across India to get their feedback, the international webinar held on January 9, 2023, and an upcoming brainstorming session to be held in IIT BHU with young and senior scientists across the country.
Speaking on occasion, Prof Ajay K Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, said, “It is our constant endeavour to empower the young scientists of India as it is an investment for the future of India.”
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Use of Methanol to reduce Green House Emissions
The Government vide, G.S.R 490 dated 24.05.2018 has notified mass emission standards for flex-fuel Methanol M15 or M100 and Methanol MD 95 vehicles. M-15 is a blend of 15 % methanol and 85 % Gasoline. Use of blended fuel M-15 in BS-IV cars can result in lowering down greenhouse gas  emissions by about 5 to 10 percent thereby improving air quality. M-15 fuel blending is available as an option and there is no proposal to make such blending mandatory in the near future.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin J Gadkari in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Defence Budget 2019-20
Union Budget for the financial year 2019-20, presented by the Finance Minister in the Parliament today, envisaged a total outlay of Rs. 27,84,200 crore. Out of this Rs. 3,18,931.22 crore has been earmarked for Defence . For Defence Pension, an amount of Rs. 1,12,079.57 crore has been provided in BE 2019-20. Total Defence Allocation, including Defence Pension, accounts for 15.48% of the total Central Government expenditure for the year 2019-20.
The allocation of Rs. 3,18,931.22 crore represents a growth of 7.93% over Budget Estimates  and 6.87% over Revised Estimates , respectively for the financial year 2018-19.
Out of Rs. 3,18,931.22 crore allocated for the financial year 2019-20, Rs. 2,10,682.42 crore for Revenue  expenditure and Rs. 1,08,248.80 crore for Capital expenditure for the Defence Services and the Organisations/Departments under the Ministry of Defence. The amount of Rs. 1,08,248.80 crore allocated for Capital expenditure, includes modernisation related expenditure. The Capital Allocation of the Ministry of Defence under BE 2019-20 is 32.19% of the total Central Government Capital Expenditure, which is Rs. 3,36,293.00 crore.
Nampi/Rajib
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PIB Headquarters
Covid-19: No public enquiry at regional passport office Cochin and PSKs and POPSKs
As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Novel Corona Virus  , the regional passport officer at Cochin has informed that public enquiry will be stopped at the regional passport office ,Cochin, Passport Seva kendras at Aluva, Alappuzha, Cochin, Kottayam and Thrissur and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras at Chengannur, Kattappana, Olavakkode and Nenmara with immediate effect till further intimation. Further, the office also requested people who have been advised self isolation by health department to desist from visiting Passport Seva Kendras during their quarantine period.
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Ministry of Defence
SUCCESSFUL FIRING OF EXTENDED RANGE VERSION OF BRAHMOS AIR LAUNCHED MISSILE AGAINST SHIP TARGET FROM SU-30 MKI AIRCRAFT
Indian Air Force today successfully fired the Extended Range Version of Brahmos Air Launched missile against a Ship Target from a SU-30MKI aircraft. The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region. With this, IAF has achieved a significant capability boost to carry out precision strikes from SU-30MKI aircraft against land/ sea targets over very long ranges. The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields. The dedicated and synergetic efforts of IAF, Indian Navy, DRDO, BAPL and HAL have been instrumental in achieving this feat.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHIDCL expedites DPR work on World’s Longest High-Altitude Shinkun La Tunnel
The tunnel will help keep Manali - Kargil highway operational throughout the year
National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited  under Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways has speeded up the detailed project report  work on the World’s Longest High-Altitude Shinkun La Tunnel  along with its approach roads in UT of Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. On completion of this tunnel, the Manali - Kargil highway will remain open throughout the year.
Government of India is giving priority to build Infrastructure in border areas of UT of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. In order to take a holistic view for improving the road connectivity and its availability throughout the year, a team of senior officers of NHIDCL led by its MD Shri K K Pathak travelled by road from Leh to North and South Portals of Shinku La Tunnel via Padum for two days, travelling for almost 12 hours a day. During this 5-days visit of Ladakh sector, the team visited the North and South Portals of Shinkun La tunnel and conducted detailed review of Geotechnical Investigations being carried out at the site by the DPR Consultants.
During the course of inspection of the works, Shri Pathak stressed upon expediting the project work in Portal areas so as to finish it latest by 15th Oct 2020 before onset of winter season as the area experiences very heavy snowfall. Locals present on the site lauded the efforts of NHIDCL to improve connectivity in the remote and inaccessible areas of Ladakh and Lahaul & Spiti District.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Public comments invited for proposed mandatory provision of co-driver airbags
In a significant measure to boost passenger safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposes to make it mandatory that an airbag be provided for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver. The proposed timelines for implementation are 01st April, 2021 for new models and 01st June, 2021 for existing models.
A draft notification no. GSR 797  dated 28th December, 2020 to this effect has been published on the Ministry's website.
Comments/ suggestions are solicited from all stakeholders at the following email address: comments-morth[at]gov[dot]inwithin 30 days from the date of notification.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Status of Avian Influenza in the country
As of21stJanuary 2021,outbreaks of Avian Influenza  have been confirmedin poultry birds in 6 States . AI has also been confirmed in Crow/Migratory/ Wild birdsin 10 States .
Further, AI has been confirmed in poultry samples from Thane , Yavatmal , WardhaGondia , Ahmednagar  and Hingoli  districts of Maharashtra; Raisen  district of Madhya Pradesh and Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
AI has been confirmed in geese in the States of Uttar Pradesh . Control and Containment Operations are going on in the affected epicentres of Chhattisgarh,Kerala, Madhya Pradeshand Maharashtra.
The central team formed for monitoring the situation in the affected areas of the country has visitedParbhani district of Maharashtra to monitor the epicenters of AI outbreak and to conduct epidemiological studies.
All states /Uts are reporting to the Department on a daily basis regarding control measures adopted by them based on the Revised Action Plan for Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza 2021. The Department is taking continuous efforts to generate awareness about AI through multiple platforms including social media .
APS/MG
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Ministry of I&B requests compliance of policy on FDI in digital media within a month
Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has today issued a public notice to facilitate eligible entities involved in uploading/streaming of news and current affairs through digital media, to comply with the decision of Union Government on 18th September 2019, which had permitted 26% FDI under Government approval route.
In a Public Notice, available on its website, the Ministry has today laid out the detailed actions to be undertaken by eligible entities to comply with this decision, within a month. Under the notice,
- Entities having foreign investment below 26% may furnish an intimation to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting within one month from today giving the following:-
 Details of the company / entity and its shareholding pattern along with the names and addresses of its Directors / shareholders,
 The names and address of Promoters/Significant Beneficial Owners,
 A confirmation with regard to compliance with pricing, documentation and reporting requirements under the FDI Policy, Foreign Exchange Management  Rules, 2019 and Foreign Exchange Management  Regulations, 2019 along with copies of relevant reporting forms in support of the past/existing foreign investment and downstream investment, if any, and
 Permanent Account Number and the latest audited / unaudited Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet along with the Auditor report.
 Entities which, at present, have an equity structure with foreign investment exceeding 26% would give similar details as at  above to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting within one month from today, and to take necessary steps for bringing down the foreign investment to 26% by 15th October, 2021 and seek approval of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
 Any entity which intends to bring fresh foreign investment in the country has to seek prior approval of the Central Government, through the Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal of DPIIT, as per the requirements of  FDI Policy of Government of India and DPIIT Press Note No. 4 of 2019  in this regard and  Foreign Exchange Management  Rules, 2019 vide Notification dated 5.12.2019.
NOTE: - Investment means to subscribe, acquire, hold or transfer any security or unit issued by a person resident in India.
 Every entity has to comply with the requirements of citizenship of Board of Directors and of the Chief Executive Officers . The entities are required to obtain security clearance for all foreign personnel likely to be deployed for more than 60 days in a year by way of appointment, contract or consultancy or any other capacity for functioning of the entity, prior to their deployment. For this purpose, the entities will apply to Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at least 60 days in advance and the proposed foreign personnel shall be deployed by the entity only after prior approval of this Ministry.
The Public Notice can be accessed at the URL below:
https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/Public%20Notice%20%20regarding%20FDI%20Policy%20.pdf
(Saurabh Singh
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION
In line with the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, on 1st June 2005, the Government of India resolved to set up a National Statistical Commission  to serve as a nodal and empowered body for all core statistical activities of the country, evolve, monitor and enforce statistical priorities and standards and to ensure statistical co- ordination among the different agencies involved.
As on date, the National Statistical Commission consists of a Chairman, two Members and one ex-officio Member.
This information was given by the Minister of State  for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
INDO-MALDIVES JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “EKUVERIN” COMMENCED AT CHAUBATIA, UTTARAKHAND
The 12th edition of joint military exercise “Ex Ekuverin” between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023. Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives.
A platoon strength contingent from Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force will be participating in 14 days long exercise. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate and carry out joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. The focus is to share best practices, enhance coordination and cooperation between both the forces at tactical level.
The 11th edition of the exercise was held in Maldives in December 2021. The defence cooperation between the two countries extends from joint exercises to assisting Maldives with defence training and equipment requirements. Both the nations have very close and friendly relations in economic, cultural and military cooperation. ‘Ex Ekuverin’ will assist in further bolstering of these ties between the two nations.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Relocation of Trees
The relocation/transplantation of trees is done by the State Government authorities keeping in view the prevalent climatic and edaphic factors as well as the physiological condition of the trees. However, the transplantation/relocation of trees is an evolving technique which is relatively new to the Country.
Permission for felling of trees is accorded by the concerned State/UT Government authorities as per the State Specific Acts,Rules,Guidelines and the orders of Hon’ble courts. However, the permission for diversion of forest land for non –forestry purpose is accorded with a condition that the minimum number of trees should be felled. The identification of trees fit for translocation is done by the field officers depending upon the ground situation and various climatic, edaphic and physiological conditions.
During last five years  forest land diversion proposals involving 1,20,33,775 trees were approved under the provisions of Forest  Act, 1980 and 20,81,04,094seedlings were planted under Compensatory Afforestation.
This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Lok Sabha today.